My View: Fiscal conservatism: Threat or menace?

At the candidate forum at Highland this week, the strawmen were getting knocked down left and right. As usual, the main strawman argument was that fiscal conservatives who don’t support writing big checks to NIDA every year are in favor of “doing nothing.” Repeatedly, pro-NIDA candidates painted a picture...

By Chris Clukey

Journal Standard

By Chris Clukey

Posted Oct. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 12, 2012 at 11:23 AM

By Chris Clukey

Posted Oct. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 12, 2012 at 11:23 AM

Freeport, Ill.

At the candidate forum at Highland this week, the strawmen were getting knocked down left and right. As usual, the main strawman argument was that fiscal conservatives who don’t support writing big checks to NIDA every year are in favor of “doing nothing.” Repeatedly, pro-NIDA candidates painted a picture of a county that is dying in a pool of blood and can only be saved by strong, frequent transfusions of taxpayer cash to NIDA.
This sort of false choice rhetoric has been going on for years. It reminds me of the comic book character, J. Jonah Jameson, who composes headlines like, “Spiderman: Threat or Menace?” For example, our board chairman recently described fiscal conservatives who won the spring primary as a “threat” that had caused a “state of emergency” in the county and would basically end civilization hereabouts.
This community has problems but ain’t dead yet or even dying. And doing nothing is the last thing the reform-minded candidates for the board have in mind.
The reform-minded fiscal conservatives believe the highest priority of government, public safety (specifically a strong sheriff’s department), has been put on the back burner for years. They believe deputies, citizens and prisoners are now unsafe. In answer to this problem, they pledge to prioritize spending so that the roads are properly patrolled and the jail properly staffed. Is that a positive future?
The reform-minded fiscal conservatives believe that our future cannot be built on a foundation of debt. They believe debt matters, that it saps agility, adds cost and closes off options. They believe a large debt load, poor cash flow and a lowered credit rating are a deterrent to businesses that may wish to locate here and an obstacle to efforts to bring them here. In answer to this problem, they pledge to design and present to the public a fiscal road map that gets us to rock-solid financial stability and begins eliminating our debt. Less debt and more options — is that a positive future?
Part of every turnaround plan is looking in detail at what the organization is doing. The reform-minded fiscal conservatives believe that there are places we can reduce our costs in county government. They believe this can be done not with an axe but with scalpels and spreadsheets, by examining everything we do with an eye toward return on investment and maximum efficiency. A government that is as efficient with your tax dollars as possible — is that a positive future?
The reform-minded fiscal conservatives believe the county board’s past has been marked not just by disagreement, but by a style of management that can be described as “mushroom farming” — keep people in the dark, pile on some manure and expect growth. The tendency toward “wait-and-hurry-up” management of problems on the horizon only compounds this situation. In answer to this problem, they pledge to design a process that allows all non-emergency issues to be discussed and reviewed at least 30 days prior to a final vote. In addition, they will elect a chairman who is a traffic cop, not “The Boss.” A board that works together effectively, led by a facilitator who brings out the best in them — is that a positive future?
The reform-minded fiscal conservatives have been dismayed that public input has been described as “artificial noise,” a “sideshow” and an obstacle to all that is good for the community. They realize that you are the bosses, we are your agents and you should be heard. In answer to that problem, they pledge to seek public input on every item, and to seek it in more ways from more people. A transparent government that listens — is that a positive future?
The reform-minded fiscal conservatives have noted the over $4,000,000 in outstanding fines and fees due the county, and noted it was only about $660,000 just a few years ago. They recognize an opportunity not only for revenue, but for greater efficiency and teamwork, because if the process was where it should be, the number would not be so large and it wouldn’t be growing. In answer to this problem, they pledge to collect these monies. A county government with more revenue to do its work — is that a positive future?
Note that I’m only including the future here, not talking about what “dangerous” fiscally conservative board members have done, like putting our nursing home back on track, eliminating needless regulations or putting together debt management plans that would have saved you millions.
Earlier this year, the chairwoman of the new pro-NIDA party said her coalition was formed because, “we want our county to progress, not regress.” For the past 10 years, we have lost population, lost jobs, lost deputies, lost ground on our credit rating and gained a mountain of debt. That’s regression, not progression. And yet we are told that any approach other than doubling down is “doing nothing.”
We have a crisis of leadership so profound that “we can do better than this” is considered a negative attack on our community. So profound that living within our means and having our priorities straight is a boogeyman. So profound that “lather-rinse-repeat” is the only solution we are offered.
Can we do better? Absolutely! But only with fiscal conservatives at the helm and a new spirit of optimism based on what we know government and the private sector can do.
You’re the boss, it’s your government. Learn it, live it and vote it!
Christopher Clukey currently represents District G on the Stephenson County Board. He can be reached at chrisclukey@comcast.net.